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Neem Karoli Baba

A Little Poem
  for Concert Band

Theme from 2004; composed March 9-31, 2015; revised Dec. 2023
Duration: about 5 minutes 30 seconds
cover photo: Neem Karoli Baba with two devotees


Chamber version recording (piano and woodwind quintet)
  MP3 recording     WAV recording (CD quality)

Full Score, PDF        Cover     Parts     
Largo    [5:44]     
 
          In 1990 I wrote several works for my friend Fred Robinson who was the composer/arranger at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Among these was a work for jazz band, The Popular Music of Planet X in three “Books”. The idea was the rather whimsical one that somewhere among the myriad planets there could be a civilization where the prime incentive for the music industry was not mercenary. Clearly such a planet must be far far away. The Air Force didn’t seem to appreciate the effort, and the score and parts were returned. (When you bomb with the Air Force….you REALLY BOMB!) 

          In 2004 I made many major alterations to the old PMPX, and had a brand new version, including A Little Poem. I made many major alterations and had a brand new version. This remained unperformed, so in 2015 I arranged it for concert band. Finally, in 2023 I converted most of the band PMPX to a piano quintet, and then to orchestra as Symphony No. 1: Popular Music of Planet X.  I now offer the four band movements of PMPX only as individual pieces, including this work.

               There is a version of A Little Poem for woodwind quintet and piano (second movement of Miniatures). The chamber version recording offered here is from a performance in 2019 at Meredith College, Raleigh NC.
         
Performance Notes
          The String Bass part is intended for an acoustic bass. An electric bass may not be used in its stead. If an electronic keyboard is used instead of an acoustic piano, it should have a concert grand piano sound. However, the preference is strongly in favor of a real piano. Accidentals hold through the measure and not beyond. This is a C score with the usual transpositions in the parts. If a conductor requires a transposed score, I will provide one, with considerable grumbling.